‘Ghost Bridge’ Demolition Delayed In Lauderdale County

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) – It has stood vacated for 16 years, and as the Lauderdale County Commission started the process to tear it down, a group has stepped forward wanting to take ownership of ‘Ghost Bridge’.

‘Ghost Bridge’ stands in a secluded portion of County Road 282 in western Lauderdale County. Locals have called it that for years.

It’s the decaying state and liability issues that have commissioners wanting the bridge gone.

A group calling itself ‘Save the Bridge’ wants it to stay and be turned over to them. Evan Tidwell is one of the group’s founders.

“We hopefully have enough volunteers to be able to put this together. Any non-profit organization is run by its volunteers, you have to have a good volunteer base in order to accomplish anything and we have that right now,” said Tidwell.

In Monday’s county commission meeting, a contract to demolish the bridge was tabled. Commissioners say that was for two reasons.

First, to give engineers time to check with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management about the demolition.

The other reason is to see if the group seeking ownership can get non-profit status and take over liability of the bridge before the next commission meeting.

“I’m not sure that they understand what all is involved with this,” explained Commissioner Fay Parker. “In making this a safe place for people to go and make pictures and do whatever else they want to do.”

Commissioner Parker says he just wants the county’s liability of the bridge to be eliminated very soon.

According to county leaders, ‘Ghost Bridge’ is not listed as a historical monument.

The commission plans to revisit the demolition contract in January at a regularly scheduled meeting.